Restrictive practices mean any intervention that limits a person’s rights or freedom of movement under the NDIS. This article is for NDIS providers, operations leads and compliance managers who need a plain explanation and what to do next.
What counts as a restrictive practice under the NDIS
Under the NDIS, a restrictive practice is any action or intervention that limits the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission defines five types. Each has strict reporting and documentation requirements.
Seclusion means isolating a participant in a room or space from which they cannot leave. Example: a support worker locks a person in their bedroom during a behavioural incident.
Chemical restraint is the use of medication to control behaviour, not for a diagnosed medical condition. Example: staff give a sedative to a participant to reduce agitation during activities.
Mechanical restraint involves using a device to restrict movement. Example: a provider fits a harness on a wheelchair to stop a person from standing up without supervision.
Physical restraint means direct physical force by another person. Example: two workers hold a participant's arms to stop them from hitting others.
Environmental restraint includes restricting access to areas or objects. Example: locking the kitchen cupboards to prevent a participant from accessing sharp items.
These are not always obvious at first. Providers need to check their daily practice and review incident records. Reporting must be done through the NDIS Commission Portal. The appointed NDIS Compliance Manager in your organisation should review the Restrictive Practices Register every month.
| Type of Restrictive Practice | Example from Provider Settings |
|---|---|
| Seclusion | Locking a person in a bedroom during a behavioural incident |
| Chemical restraint | Giving a sedative to prevent agitation in daily activities |
| Mechanical restraint | Using a harness on a wheelchair to restrict movement |
| Physical restraint | Holding a person's arms to stop physical aggression |
| Environmental restraint | Locking kitchen cupboards to block access to sharp objects |
Who can authorise a restrictive practice and what process applies
Only an authorised person or panel can approve a restrictive practice in NDIS settings. The authorisation process varies across states and territories, so always check the current requirements with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The behaviour support practitioner writes a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) after assessing the participant and consulting with the participant, family and support team. This plan details any proposed restrictive practices and outlines strategies for positive behaviour support.
Once the BSP includes a restrictive practice, approval (authorisation) must come from the relevant authority. This authority is often a state or territory government panel or officer. The provider must not apply the restrictive practice until authorisation is granted in writing.
The registered NDIS provider is responsible for:
- Keeping a Restrictive Practice Authorisation record to show approval details and review dates.
- Maintaining a Behaviour Support Plan for each participant where restrictive practices are used.
- Recording every instance or use of a restrictive practice in the Incident Register (this is sometimes called a reportable incident).
- Uploading the behaviour support plans and reporting the use of restrictive practices through the NDIS Commission’s Behaviour Support Portal. This happens monthly.
Management’s role is to make sure these records are accurate and up to date. The behaviour support practitioner develops and regularly reviews the BSP. Management handles compliance, documentation and notification.
| Role | Key responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Behaviour support practitioner | Develops, reviews BSP, consults with relevant parties |
| Management | Maintains Authorisation record, Incident Register, submits reports to NDIS Commission |
From time to time, process and authorisation requirements may change. Always check the latest rules with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. For more information on best practice processes, see our NDIS consultant services.
What the NDIS Practice Standards require for restrictive practice
The NDIS Practice Standards make it clear that restrictive practice must be used only as a last resort. Providers must document every restrictive practice in a Restrictive Practices Register. This register records the type of practice, the person it affects, the behaviour of concern, and review dates. The NDIS Commission requires that approved behaviour support practitioners are involved when restrictive practices are used.
Key requirements from the Standards include: - Minimisation: Only use restrictive practice when there is no practical alternative. All steps taken to reduce or phase out the restriction should be recorded. - Documentation: Register every incident. Use a Restrictive Practices Register and complete Behaviour Support Plans. Upload information to the NDIS Commission’s portal as required. - Staff training: Train all relevant staff in the safe use of the approved restrictive practice. Training records and attendance lists should be kept by the compliance manager. - Ongoing review: Regular reviews are required. Appoint a person to review the Restrictive Practices Register at least every 3 to 6 months and after each incident.
Providers must also check that their policies match NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission guidelines. This includes having an up-to-date restrictive practice policy and clear procedures for staff.
An example from a recent audit: A provider recorded a locked kitchen door in the Restrictive Practices Register. The compliance officer updated the Behaviour Support Plan in consultation with the behaviour support practitioner. The team scheduled weekly reviews and documented every action towards phasing out the restriction.
For providers interested in strengthening their documentation and review processes, ISO compliance support can help organisations align to international compliance standards for better quality management.
| Requirement | Responsible Person |
|---|---|
| Register update | Compliance officer |
| Staff training record | Training coordinator |
| Plan review | Behaviour support practitioner |
Reducing restrictive practices in everyday operations
Reducing restrictive practices starts with setting clear routines and giving staff practical tools. Operational leads and support workers play an active role. They must collect accurate data, regularly review procedures and encourage alternatives that uphold the rights of participants.
Managers should review the Behaviour Support Plan and Behaviour Support Register each month. Collect and record all uses of restrictive practices using the NDIS Commission portal. Analyse the records to spot trends or repeated situations. Support workers should complete incident reports promptly after each occurrence and attend regular team debriefs, for example at fortnightly meetings.
Encouraging alternatives works best when frontline teams know what is allowed and have practical strategies. Use behaviour support strategies before any restraint, such as redirection, clear choices or taking short breaks. Bring in positive behaviour support practitioners for review and training.
Quick tips for reducing restrictive practices: - Review the Behaviour Support Register every month for accuracy and completeness. - Discuss recent incidents in fortnightly team meetings and plan alternate responses. - Schedule regular refresher training on proactive supports for all workers. - Involve participants and families in reviewing restrictions. - Encourage open feedback after incidents to improve approaches. - Assign a senior worker to audit behaviour data each quarter. - Check progress in business growth strategy sessions to align service growth with quality practice.
| Practice | How to Reduce |
|---|---|
| Physical restraint | Use positive behaviour supports, train in de-escalation, document all incidents |
| Chemical restraint | Consult treating professionals, review medication use often, record consent |
| Environmental restraint | Increase supervised access, review restrictions at care review meetings |
NDIS providers who regularly collect, review and question their use of restrictive practices improve compliance and service quality.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for reporting the use of a restrictive practice? The person responsible is the NDIS provider, usually via a nominated compliance manager or service manager. Reporting should be completed through the NDIS Commission Portal each time a restrictive practice is used.
How often should the Restrictive Practices Register be updated? Providers must update the Restrictive Practices Register every time a restrictive practice is used or changed. The compliance manager should check updates against incident reports and behaviour support plans regularly.
What documentation do I need to keep when restrictive practices are used? You need to keep the Restrictive Practices Register, behaviour support plans, incident reports and any correspondence with the NDIS Commission. These records should be stored securely and be available for audit at any time.
Who approves the use of restrictive practices in our organisation? An authorised NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner writes the behaviour support plan, but the use must be authorised under relevant state or territory legislation. Final approval often rests with state-appointed authorisation panels or officers.
How do I know if a behaviour intervention counts as a restrictive practice? Check the definitions given by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. If in doubt, review the behaviour against the Commission’s published guidelines or discuss with your organisation’s behaviour support specialist.
Conclusion
NDIS providers must recognise, report and minimise restrictive practices to stay compliant and support participant rights. For tailored advice, book a free 15-minute call with Provider Compliance.